THUNDER BAY, Ont. – While Canada’s food supply is generally safe, the inspection system is not as foolproof and comprehensive as many consumers assume, says an executive of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
“The food supply is very safe but there are gaps,” Ron Doering, inspection agency executive vice-president, said last week during a meeting with leaders of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. “The system is not as good as people think it is.”
The biggest problem lies in Canada’s divided jurisdictions.
While all food product moving between provinces or internationally must meet federal inspection standards, the provinces are responsible for inspection of food that does not leave the province.
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In some, the inspection is voluntary. For some products, it is non-existent.
Not inspected
“There is food making it onto the table in some provinces that has not been inspected,” he said.
Small local meat plants often are not subject to regular inspections.
As well, Ottawa and the provinces have not been able to negotiate national standards for the food industry.
Despite years of negotiation and widespread agreement on the need, there is no deal to create a national dairy code, for example.
“It means product can come into your pro-vince at the level your province has, not at the federal level,” Doering told the CFA board July 25.
“We have 10 national standards.”
When Ottawa and the provinces agreed federal food inspection would be consolidated this year within the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, one of the goals was to move toward more national standards.
Doering said some progress has been made. Nova Scotia has revamped its food inspection system, using federal standards as a model.
Alberta and federal officials have discussed how the two levels can work more closely together.
And the Canadian food industry recognizes there is growing consumer awareness of food safety issues and growing consumer unease with the uneven patchwork of food safety assurance.
At the federal level, Doering said there still is work to be done within the new agency.
Savings not seen
It was created with a promise that amalgamation of service would save $44 million. By next year, the agency will still be $33 million short of that goal and it will be trying to squeeze costs out of the system.
He said it will come by reducing staff costs, closing some labs that are no longer necessary and making arrangements with industry sectors to reduce the costs and scope of services provided.
“It will not come from cost
recovery.”
Doering said the agency is facing “labor turmoil” as it tries to reduce staff and to renegotiate contracts with unions which represent the 4,700 employees.
